Putin and Trump agree on Syria at brief meeting in Vietnam

DANANG, Vietnam (Reuters) — U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met briefly on the sidelines of a summit of Asia-Pacific leaders in Vietnam on Saturday and agreed on the require for a political solution to Syria’s conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin talk throughout the loved ones photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

A joint statement on Syria followed their 1st meeting given that July at a time that U.S.-Russia relations have been battered and Trump is haunted by allegations that Putin meddled in last year’s election that brought him to the White Property.

Their statement named for a political answer to Syria’s conflict and mentioned they would continue joint efforts to fight Islamic State. Trump stated it would save “tremendous numbers of lives”.

“We did it very speedily,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One right after leaving the Asia-Pacific Financial Cooperation (APEC) summit in the resort of Danang for Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital. “We seem to have a very good feeling for each and every other, a good partnership contemplating we do not know each other well.”

Speaking soon after their meeting, Putin described Trump as “a properly-mannered individual and comfy to deal with”.

“We know every single other tiny, but the U.S. president is extremely civil in his behavior, friendly. We have a typical dialogue but regrettably tiny time,” he said.

Scheduling and unspecified protocol problems have been to blame for the fact that a mooted sit-down meeting did not occur in Danang, he stated.

Trump mentioned they had two or three very short conversations.

They were seen chatting amicably as they walked to the position where the traditional APEC summit photo was getting taken at a viewpoint looking more than the South China Sea.

Pictures from the APEC meeting also showed Trump walking up to Putin as he sat at the summit table and patting him on the back. They also shook hands at the summit dinner on Friday evening.

The Kremlin had sought a one particular-on-a single meeting ahead of the summit. Though the White Residence had mentioned no official meeting was planned, it had also mentioned it was attainable they would bump into each and every other.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speak throughout the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Restricted Contact

Soon after emphasizing last year on the campaign trail that it would be good if the United States and Russia could perform together on planet problems, Trump has had restricted speak to with Putin because taking workplace.

The sight of Trump sitting down with Putin in public also revives the situation of Russian meddling in last year’s U.S. presidential election, which remains below investigation.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin attend the household photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva

Trump’s former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, has been indicted in the probe along with his former deputy, Rick Gates.

Trump mentioned Putin had told him once more that he hadn’t meddled in the election.

“I truly believe that when he tells me that, he implies it,” Trump stated of the accusations. “I consider he’s very insulted by it, which is not a excellent factor for our country.”

It would be a fantastic factor to have a great relationship with Russia, Trump stated.

“He could genuinely assist us in North Korea,” Trump mentioned. “If Russia helped us in addition to China that issue would go away a lot quicker.”

The Kremlin mentioned the statement on Syria was coordinated by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson especially for the meeting in Danang.

With Islamic State obtaining suffered losses in Syria and beyond, greater attention is turning to the broader conflict amongst President Bashar al-Assad’s forces and rebel factions.

They confirmed their commitment to Syria’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and known as on all parties to the Syrian conflict to take an active portion in the Geneva political procedure, it stated.

Further reporting by Steve Holland in DANANG and Maria Kiselyova in MOSCOW Writing by Matthew Tostevin Editing by Clarence Fernandez/Stephen Coates/Ros Russell